Guard Dog and Watch Dog Capabilities

Irish Water Spaniel	Wirehaired Pointer Griffon	St. Bernard (pm)	Dalmation	Skye Terrier
Dachshund	Boston Terrier	Lhasa Apso	Bedlington Terrier	Miniature Schnauzer
Brussels Griffon	Papillon	Affenpinscher	Toy Poodle (pm)	Manchester Terrier

The dog breeds in this group are very alert watchdogs, but, because of their being emotionally vacillating and usually shy around strangers, they tend to be a nuisance with their constant barking, usually from behind a chair or table when any visitor enters or at the slightest noise, frazzling their owner's no doubt already shattered nerves. Most are small to tiny dogs, except for the puppy-mill St. Bernard. These breeds may be too noisy for an apartment, always barking whenever someone walks past the door.

St. Bernard (wb)	Great Dane	Collie	German Shorthaired Pointer	Harrier
Field Spaniel	Sealyham Terrier	Keeshond	Cairn Terrier	Shih Tzu
Welsh Terrier	Miniature Schnauzer (wb)	Norwich Terrier	Australian Terrier	Silky Terrier

These breeds are also constant barkers. They are less likely to hide and more likely to quit barking eventually, especially if not threatened by the so-called intruder.

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Irish Setter
Greyhound
Vizsla
Saluki
Sussex Spaniel Afghan Hound

West Highland White Shetland Sheepdog
Whippet
Brittany Spaniel Italian Greyhound

This dog breed group may also be incessant barkers, but they are less alert and while they also bark from the safety of hiding places, they don't usually bark at the slightest hall noise outside an apartment.

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Newfoundland	Old English Sheepdog (wb)	Basset Hound	Bloodhound	Otterhound	Black & Tan Coonhound	English Foxhound	Golden Retriever
Samoyed	Labrador Retriever	Flat-coat Retriever	American Foxhound	Curly-coat Retriever	Gordon Setter	Irish Water Spaniel	English Setter
English Springer Spaniel	Pointer	French Bulldog	Welsh Springer Spaniel	Dandie Dinmont	Wheaten Terrier	English Cocker Spaniel	Beagle
Cocker Spaniel (wb)	Pekingese	Bichon Frise	Border Terrier	English Toy Spaniel	Japanese Spaniel	Maltese

This dog breed group may contain the best watchdogs. They will bark at noises, but will learn to adapt to frequent hall noises in an apartment and focus their attention only on those noises and people that are unfamiliar to them. With reassurance they can be persuaded to be quiet. Basically, they will give an alarm and then, if everthing turns out to be ok, they will quieten down.

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Borzoi

Irish Wolfhound

Clumber Spaniel

Scottish Deerhound

Siberian Husky

In this group some breeds may sleep through an intrusion of their owners home. The Borzoi may snap at an intruder if disturbed. The Husky may be friendly to the intruder. The size of the large Irish Wolfhound and Scottish Deerhound may be enough to scare intruders away, even though their calm temperament averts an attack. Some Irish Wolfhounds may be natural guard dogs

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Old English Sheepdog (pm)	Sussex Spaniel	Miniature Poodle	Manchester Toy Terrier
Chihuahua	Miniature Pinscher	Toy Poodle (pm)

In this group we are back to the constant barkers. Like the breeds in Group 1, they may continuously bark with uninterrupted fervor. However, these breeds are more likely to put on a brave front, lunging out from their hiding places, the smaller ones snapping at the heels of passersby. Old English Sheepdogs may become formidable but fearful attackers, easily scared off by an aggressive approach. These are the breeds that will bark continuously at an intruder from a distance. They may become brave if the intruder turns his/her back to them, which may result in some nipping at heels, but they will immediately retreat to a defensive distance when the intruder turns and faces them. They are intimidated by a direct frontal approach and encouraged by a retreat. They are also hard to keep quiet and seldom get accustomed to everyday noises they have heard often before.

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Chow Chow	Pembroke Welsh Corgi	Scottish Terrier	Basenji
Lakeland Terrier	Fox Terrier	Pomeranian

These breeds are not as cowardly as the previous group. They may be constant barkers and may react to a frontal approach aggressively. The smaller ones may nip at the intruders pants from the front as well as the back. The Tibetan, Lakeland Terriers, Corgi and the Basenji may be able to back up their threats by a fearsome bite. The Chow can be quiet vicious, but usually isn't.

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Otterhound

The Alaskan Malamute, which is aware of noises, may bark, but despite its size is not considered a good guard dog, although some Malamutes can be ferocious.

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Mastiff	Bouvier des Flandres	Great Pyrenees	Cardigan Welsh Corgi
Bernese Mountain Dog	Airedale Terrier	Standard Poodle

In this group we have some of the better guard dogs, since they are alert when on the lookout, but are not constantly barking at everyday noises. Their protectiveness toward home and family are easily controllable by most home owners. The large size of some naturally scares away intruders. They tend to hold intruders at bay rather than attacking. The Airedale can be a tough fighter. The Cardigan will drive intruders away. Surprisingly, the Standard Poodle falls into this category.

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Tibetan Terrier

Irish Terrier

Schipperke

This group contains some very alert natural guard dogs that are ready and willing to defend their territory, but are emotionally vacillating, which means that they may fearfully attack and/or challenge would be intruders. The Terriers would not be discouraged by a counterattack. They may be constant barkers. Counter threats may increase both their fear and their viciousness.

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Akita	German Shepherd (wb)	Weimaraner	Chesapeake By Retriever	Norwegian Elkhound
German Wirehaired Pointer	Bull Terrier	Kerry Blue Terrier	Tibetan Terrier

This group contains barkers and good guard dogs. They will bark at strange noises, most may challenge intruders and they can be taught to attack. However, they can usually be controlled by their owners.

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German Shepherd (pm)

Belgian Malinois

Belgian Sheepdog

Beldian Tervuren

These breeds may be too dangerous for most owners wanting a watch dog. One reason is their vacillating
fearfulness.

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St. Bernard (pm)	Rottweiler	Doberman Pinscher	Puli	Bullmastiff	Komondor
Kuvasz	Briard	American Staffordshire Bull Terrier	Standard Schnauzer	Giant Schnauzer	Rhodesian Ridgeback

This group contains potentially dangerous breeds. They may attack out of sheer dominance and territoriality. Their large size can make them very scary to intruders. They are very protective of the home and family. These breeds, especially the larger ones, should be owned by experts in controlling aggressive dogs. Their likelihood of doing harm is too great for anyone else to own them. Even then, they should receive extensive training and socialization. With that, they may be passable as pets.

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English Bulldog

The English Bulldog is in a group all by himself. It is the only breed that is a very slow watch dog, but a formidable guard dog. In essense, you have to wake it up and point it toward the intruder, whom it may attack if sufficiently bothered and has the energy to attack.

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(pm) puppy mill
(wb) well bred

6 Classifications Of Dog Breeds | Sitemap

Irish Setter	Greyhound	Vizsla	Saluki	Sussex Spaniel	Afghan Hound
West Highland White	Shetland Sheepdog	Whippet	Brittany Spaniel	Italian Greyhound

Guard Dog and Watch Dog Capabilities

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